Well, you couldn’t expect David Stern to do any less than suspend both Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton for the rest of the season. Not after they both were charged for the roles in the worst locker room joke ever played in the NBA. Really, for what they did, they both deserved to be banned for the rest of the season. Their suspensions now rank as the third and fourth longest in NBA history, with Arenas clocking in at 50 games and Crittenton at 38.
I had earlier said that I didn’t think that Arenas should be banned for the rest of the season, but after the details started coming out as to what really happened, there’s no way to back my previous stance. When a guy blatantly breaks the law by bringing guns into the workplace, threatens another person and even says that he’ll blow up their car, well that is way too far.
Now the only questions that remain are about these two players’ futures. Crittenton was never anything special and will only be remembered – after this incident – as one of the guys traded to Memphis in the Pau Gasol deal. His career in the NBA could be over. As for Arenas, since he has been charged now, his monster contract could be voided and the Wizards could be free from that proverbial shackle. Will it be voided? Well that’s a matter for the league and the players’ association and this could, quite frankly, last until the end of Arenas’ ban. Situations like this aren’t going to be settled overnight.